The Mark Degree In England.

retired from English ground altogether ; and , accordingly Ave sent up a- very full Report of all the proceedings , generally such as I have now been speaking to , to the Grand Lodge and Grand Chapter of England , and this Report concludes as follows : — " In these circumstances your Committee do not recommend the Supreme Chapter to acquiesce in the call made upon it in fche document

IIOAV under consideration . Bufc they would be very glad to soe fche Degree of Mark Master put on the same footing in England as in Ireland , Scotland , Canada , and America , and Avith this A'iew they recommend the Supreme Chapter fco bring the matter before the Grand Lodge and the Grand Chapter of England ; and should either of these bodies sanction the working of the Mark

Master ' s Degree , as a parfc of fche Fellow Craffc Degree ( as have been done by tbe Grand Lodge of Scotland ) , or separately as in the case in the Grand Lodges and Chapters of Ireland , Canada , and America , or should they recognise the Grand Lodgo of Mark Masters as the lawful head of the Order in England—in any of these events your Committee Avould recommend the

Supremo Chapter afc once fco recall the Avarrants already granted to Lodges in thafc country , and to cease from granting IIOAV ones in time coming , Bufc until the recognised governing Masonic Bodies in England do this , your Committee do nofc think the Supreme Chapter could take the initiative in recognising as a laAvful governing bodv the Grand Lodge of Mark Masters ot

England . " That AA'as in 1864 On the llth of November , 1864 , fche Committee met and passed thafc Report . This Avas sent to the Grand Lodge and Chapter of England , in December , 1864 , along with a Memorial ; and this Memorial , after relating the fact that the Report had been adopted , asked a deliverance on the following points : — " 1 st . Whether these Grand Bodies are prepared to sanction fche Avorking of the Mark Master ' s Degree in England , either as a part of the

Second or Fellow Craffc Degree ( as has been done by the Grand Lodge of Scotland ) , or as a separate Degree , as in the case in the Lodges holding under tho Sister Grand Lodges of Ireland , Canada , and America ; or , 2 nd . AYhether these Grand Bodies are prepared to recognise the Body styling itself' The Grand Lodgo of Mark Masters of England , AVales , and tho Colonies

and Possessions of the British Crown , ' as tho lawful head-of tho Order of Mark Maonry in England , " and this Memonial concludes as folloAvs : —• In submitting these questions to the Grand Lodge and Cliapter of England , tho Supreme Chapter of Scotland Avould express a hope that some arrangement may be made which will have tho effect of bringing about a

similarity of Avorking in the two countries , Avhich , from their close alliance , is much to be desired ; and that in this way tlie proper place may bo assigned to the Mark Master ' s Degree in the Degrees of Masonry . " This was sent to Grand Lodge of England in December , 1864 , and in June , 1865 , there AVUS received by Bro . AVbyto Melvills , Grand Z . of fche Grand Chapter of Scotland ,

from Bro . Gray Clarke , then Grand Secretary to the Grand Lodge of England , a letter containing the following replies to the queries submitted , viz .: —1 st . Thafc the Grand Lodge of England in tho Book of Constitutions has declared ancl pronounced 'That pure Ancient Masonry consists of Three Degrees and no more—viz ., those of the Entered Apprentice , the FCIIOAV Craffc , and

the Master Mason , including fche Supreme Order of the Holy Royal Arch , ' and consequently ifc gives no sanction to the Avorking of the Mark Master ' s Degree iu England . 2 nd . That tho Grand Lodge of England does nofc ac-1 'iiOAvlcdge the Mark Master ' s Degree to be parfc of pure Ancient Freemasonry , and does not recognise the Body styling itself ' The Grand Lodge of Mark Masters of England , AVales , and the Colonies and Possessions of fche British CroAvn . " And the same letter , merely altering the name of the Grand Body , Avas sent from the Grand

Chapter of England . In consequence of thafc communication the Grand Chapter of Scotland declined to recognise the Grand Lodge of Mark Masters of England to any effect Avhatever , and matters weufc on in this state for some time longer , till negociations were again opened by Bro . Binckes to see if some arrangement could not be made whereby something might be done which would put matters on a better footing , At that time tho idea of a Conference between all bodies

interested Avas suggested , and the matter came before the Grand Chapter Committee in the first place in September last year , when fche following report was made : — " The Committee having taken into consideration communication from Bro , Frederick Binckes , London , proposing a Conference betAveen Delegates of the Supreme Chapter and tho body Avhich he represents , and having

also carefully considered the previous communings relative thereto , unanimously recommend the Supreme Chapter to agree to send Delegates fco a Conference provided Grand Lodges and Chapters of England , Ireland , and Scotland , are parties to ifc . " That is the recommendation of fche Committee , and I wish to read to you also the Minute of the Grand Chapter following thereon , bufc

before doing so I should mention thafc between the meeting of the Committee and Grand Chapter , Bro . Binckes sent to ns a communication from Ireland , from Avhich ifc appeared thafc the Grand Chapter of Ireland , although ib has never formally recognised the Grand Lodge of Mark Masters of England , has recognised the certificates issuing from ifc . Ifc goes so far back as 1860 , and being

a long time ago had been entirely overlooked by everybody until the meeting of Grand Chapter , and vve only then learned the position Ireland occupied in reference fco this matter . This Avas laid before the Grand Chapter as also a letter from the Grand Chapter of Canada , agreeing to a recognition of the Grand Mark Lodge . * This is the minute of the meeting . The date is the 2 lsfc September , 1870 . " The Supreme Chapter then took into consideration communications from Comp . Frederick Binckes , of London , and Bro . fche Rev . G- K .

Portal on the subject of the proposed Conference Avith the body Avhich these Brethren represented with the vieAv to a recognition of that body of the Supreme Chapter , also tho copy letters therein referred to from tho Grand Secretary of the Grand [ Lodge of England , the Deputy Grand Master of Ireland , and the Grand Secretary of the Grand Lodge of Canada , and the report

of the Committee fchereanent . After a long discussion ifc Avas ultimately unanimously resolved to adopt the recommendation of the Commitfce , and to agree to appoint ; Delegates with a view to a Conference , provided Delegates Avere also appointed by fche Grand Lodge and and Chapter of England , fche Grand Lodge and Chapter of Ireland , the Grand Lodge of Scotland . In coming to

this decision the Supreme Chapter did not overlook the documents laid before them by Brothers Portal and Binckes , nor underrate their important bearing upon the question IIOAV under discussion , more particularly in so far as they disclose the sentiments of individual members of fche Grand Lodge of England as such , bufc keeping in ¦ vieAv : ( 1 ) The decided expression of the minds of the

Grand Lodge and Chapter of England as contained in the resolutions of these Grand Bodies dated respective !}* , the 7 th June and 2 nd August , 1865 , nofc to recognise "( he body styling itself the Grand Lodge of Mark Masters of England and AVales and the Colonies and Possessions of the British CroAvn , " and ( 2 ) the serious complications which might arise Avere the Grand Lodge

of England afc any future time to adopt the same view of the Marie Degree as has been adopted by the Grand Lodge of Scotland- —viz .: that it is not a separate Degree afc all , bufc a parfc and portion of the Felloiv Craft Degree ,